A Season of Serving

It's that time of year again. It seems that as soon as Halloween is here, we turn back our clocks, and the holiday season is here and done. The tornado sucks us up and tosses us around, our heads spinning until finally it spits us out sometime into the next year. We are exhausted and glad it's over. What a sad thought of how easily we get caught up in the busy season of Christmas and forget the true meaning. With Christmas a month before Little Bean's expected arrival, it's important that I chose how I spend my energy this year. Instead of marathon shopping, making dozens of homemade crafts, and rushing to every holiday party, I'm going to focus my time on the things that count. The things of eternal value.

" Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10

My friend and I co-lead a girl's life group. We meet each week to hang out, pray, discuss our bible study, and eat yummy food. We just finished the "Unglued" study by Lysa TerKeurst. (highly recommend) and have decided for our next journey together we are going to do a Season of Serving. 

We knew that with our busy schedules and various things going on, starting up a new book to study would be too much. 

So each month in November, December, and January we have choosen to do 2 service projects together. One community service, and one within our group. We came up with some fun ideas and I wanted to share a few of them in hopes that it sparks you to think about how a small act of service could be a great way for your family to bless others during the upcoming fall and winter months.

-Donating to your local food pantry
- Serving in the soup kitchen
-One of my friends is having us over for a pie making lesson with her secret recipe
-Adopting a family to buy Christmas for or selecting gifts for an Angel Tree
-Rake your neighbor's leaves
-Christmas cookie/candy making to share at your workplace, family events, or with neighbors
-Sending a heartfelt note or card in the mail
-At home DIY spa party
-Buying for another table during a dinner out
-Helping an elderly relative or friend do their Christmas (or grocery) shopping
-Take the pressure off gift giving and choose a movie date or coffee date with a friend instead.
-Donate to winter coat drives

Be sure to add your own ideas in the comment section.

“It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” 
― Mother Teresa

Yard Barn Turned Craft Shed

About a year ago, I had an idea to turn our little yard barn into a craft shed. I had all kinds of ideas I found online through Pinterest. I was constantly showing Kyle my "dream barn."  My awesome husband actually listened and through a lot of hard work and help from friends and family, I have an awesome place to work on my projects. AND...the baby room is now empty and ready for paint! Here's our journey through photos from our Yard Barn turned Craft Shed. 


Part 1: Where to start?!
I think this was the hardest part. Kyle had to cut insulation to size, build a ceiling, put up vapor barrier, and put up plywood walls. The shed was not completely level so it was a lot of trial and error. This was a long process and we are glad we have a few tall friends and family members to help! I will add that even though Kyle is wearing the same outfit in every picture these are days and weeks worth of work. His camo pants are just his "work uniform."

Part 2:  After we had all of the walls and ceiling up, Kyle had to caulk around the edges, seal everything tight and, put in my heating and air unit (which we tricked my Dad into helping us with) The air unit is the best part. It does heating and cooling both so I can escape to my shed any time I want. 

Part 3:  Next up was painting and flooring and moving in furniture, this time we had help from my in-laws.

Part 4:  Have you seen the show "Yard Crashers?" It's a show where the host bombards you at Home Depot and asks if he can take over your yard for the next few days and you end up with an amazing backyard. Well my mother in law, scheduled herself to stay with us for a few days and "Crash our Shed." It was amazing. There is no way it would be finished without her. This woman is a hard worker! I was completely exhausted when she left and ecstatic about my finished craft shed.

And here are the final pictures!!!

The cubbies that my mother in law painted for me were free from her work. 

We were surprised how much space we still had after everything was put in. 

Cubbies were perfect for my neatly stacked material and all my scrapbooking supplies.

The shelving near the ceiling for totes were the only things we had to buy for storage. Everything else is a mix match of things we had around the house. 

This cabinet was an impulse buy at a flea market for next to nothing. I've been using it for storage in my dining room, but decided this would work great for my sewing storage. The shelves are full of things to be mended! 

I had saved a ton of jars, old tupperware, little bins, plastic strawberry containers etc.. They turned out to be quite useful to use for storing little things in the cubbies. Even though nothing matches, it's nice to be able to recycle.

I have a long list of projects to get started on and no excuses now! 

Thank you especially to my brilliant husband who jumped in and worked hours and hours to bring my little pinterest dream to life. Maybe I'll sew you a new pair of camo pants. xoxo. 

Fall Decor: Thrifting & DIY

It's been a week since our "Jeeps Or Jewelry?"  gender reveal. I still haven't put everything away from the party. The house is kind of a mess. But I decided (naturally) to ignore the mess and get some Fall crafting on while I was in the mood.  I recruited the husband to help me drag out my storage totes of Fall cuteness & decor and got to it before my energy faded.

You remember the nice chalkboard my sister made for the party with the Old Wives Tales? See it here. 

 I grabbed the board, some chalk, a cup of water and sat down to work on my *masterpiece. I was planning on working on the board for a good while, but it turned out to be a fairly easy 10 minute project.  

I hung the chalkboard in the dining room above my antique wash stand that my uncle refinished for me. 

I love to set up a display on the wash stand. It also serves as storage for some of my platters and dishes I use for parties. I scored this double cola crate for $5 at a flea market last year. The faux flower arrangements are from dollar general. I bought them over 5 years ago when I was decorating my little apartment on a budget. Over the years I have spruced them up by adding little flower picks and ribbons from JoAnn's. They've seen better days, but I don't mind. I just give them a fluff and they are good to go. The glass bottles are old pepsi cola bottles that my dad and I dug out of the muddy bottoms at the farm. We found all kinds of vintage bottles.

Here's a picture from that day we went picking at the farm. Don't you think he is a good daddy-wearing the mismatched gloves (so I can use the good pair) and carrying the heavy buckets of moldy, muddy treasures for my latest whim?

I love changing out my decor for the seasons (or more often if the mood strikes). I have learned how to keep it within budget by rotating my favorite flea market finds and stocking up on after season clearance items. Sometimes a little paint or a clean up job is all a piece needs to become revived again. I especially enjoy displaying items with a story or meaning behind it. Like the vintage bottles reminding me of spectacular muddy farm days with my strong, loving dad. What's your favorite way to save when it comes to seasonal decorations? 

*Want to try your own chalkboard masterpiece?

Tips for writing on chalkboard- Keep the chalk wet. It will look like it is barely writing and very light in color. But don't worry, it dries bright white and looks so much smoother than dry writing. Keep a damp soft rag and q-tips handy for mistakes. If you are coloring in a big section for a doodle or large lettering, just wet the board where you are working. Don't worry about it being perfect. You can make faint measuring lines (just erase with a q-tip) and be precise if you would like. I prefer just to eyeball it.  I like my projects to look just a tad bit imperfect and homemade. 

Jeeps Or Jewelry?

BOY OR GIRL?

Phew! What a fun and exhausting week. Last Friday we went to our 20 week ultrasound to see if Baby Campbell is a boy or girl. It was so amazing to see our baby moving around and knowing that everything is healthy and on track. We decided to host a Gender Reveal Party with our parents and siblings to tell them the exciting news on Sunday. It was a long two days waiting to spill the beans....

Here are photos from our "Jeeps or Jewelry" Gender Reveal Party.........

My sister helped me make this banner for the voting table.  Isn't it terrific?
The rest of the display are all things I've had around except the Jeep book that I bought for Baby last week.

Pardon the lighting.  Eco friendly bulbs are not great for photos. Need to work on my camera skills before Baby arrives.

Jeeps?

Jewelry?

After everyone voted we were at : Boy 3 Girl 8

               

My sister made this and brought it to the party for us, the chalkboard is a gift for Baby's room and I think it will be awesome for future photo props. Results: Girl 8 Boy-4 (not all shown) 

This washstand is my favorite piece of furniture. I always use it for display. I didn't want to spend a lot of money on the party so I wrapped some Ball jars in yarn and made some tags to hang on a silver jewelry tree I got years ago at Goodwill for $.50. I've had that vintage baby name book forever and it worked perfectly as a title for the name suggestion station.
Some twine & clothes pins to hang ultrasound pictures-which turned out great. Baby was very cooperative. 

It was fun to see everyone looking through the pics and trying to guess. I had the labeled pictures hidden of course!

This was the "Can't Wait Tag Tree" I asked everyone to fill out a tag to Baby Campbell telling one thing they just couldn't wait to do with Baby Campbell. I'm going to save them all in the baby book. I filled out one from the doggies as examples. Mine read:  "I can't wait to hear your first giggles. Love, Mommy"  Baby laughs are my favorite!

This was the name suggestion station. It was fun reading all the responses. We had some great name ideas.
 Still no name yet though.  What a hard decision!

Time for the big reveal!!! Boy or Girl? ...1....2......3.......!!!

IT'S A BOY!!!!!
Remember those votes? I think it was a surprise all around! 

I made my favorite Jello poke cake and I couldn't resist crafting this tiny little banner. 

Blue Jello for boy!



Overall the party went great. We had so much fun!  It was even better that all of our family got to attend church with us before the party. Sometimes God gives us an abundance of blessings. We are feeling that now and pray that we remember to give Him the glory for it all. Prayers Answered.

And Oh my, we are so excited about having a little boy!!!!

Here's our 20 week shot announcing our BOY!

A little 18 week update

Wow how time has flown by since we first saw that tiny little plus sign on a stick!  I am now 18 weeks. 

Sorry to disappoint but it's still only a little baby belly. But don't worry, I"ve got plenty of weeks left to grow!

There are so many thoughts running through my head at any given time. A girl's mind is a complicated thing. A pregnant girl's mind is just pure chaos. Even sleeping our minds never stop. Dreaming is taking on a whole new level of crazy. 

With all these thoughts and new experiences I have been wanting to start journaling again. I used to write all the time. I think I got that from my mom. Her pocket calendars would be full of tidbits from her day and she would often have a notebook she wrote in just to record everyday happenings. I used to love reading through old entries of hers. We even found the entries from when Kyle and I were baptized at the same church around the same time when we were younger. 

The days seem to slide on by and I still haven't picked my journal back up. Every time I sit down to write, I end making a to do list instead. Oh how I love making lists. (Another trait I got from my momma.) So I think next time I"m out and about, I'm going to pick up a new notebook and a lovely pen. 

Oh and I have felt some flutters! Baby Bean was really moving around in there during Justin Timberlake's performance on the MTV video awards. I'm not surprised since I was a mega Nsync fan. (not ashamed) 

We can't wait to see our tiny dancer at our next ultrasound! 

Baby Journey: So far, so good.

Well I think it's time for a little update on our baby journey.

Tomorrow starts week 16. So far things have flown by.
We have been calling our little bundle "Baby Bean" for now. Thanks to my friends at work who decided that with my nickname "Jilly Bean" that "Baby Bean" is most fitting.

1st Trimester: I started out pretty yucky feeling. I also have joined the Champion Burping Club, which makes me think heartburn will be coming soon. Kyle said he'll need to sign me up for etiquette classes to learn how to be a lady again. Obviously, he thinks I'm quite lovely. Kyle is on cloud nine though and maybe even more excited than I am. Not as excited as both our parents who are going to be grandparents for the first time!

Few weeks into 2nd Trimester:  I am feeling much better and my belly is definitely not flat anymore. I've been calling about child care, planning the nursery, and considering names (no names yet.). I am ready to find out boy or girl so the fun stuff can begin! We are planning a gender reveal party with our families so be sure to check back and see the party details.

Cravings so far:  cheese, cupcakes, and salad. Yes, salad with lettuce.
Things that make me gag:  Archer's dog food, toothpaste, cleaning the house (ok maybe the last one isn't exactly pregnancy related.)

Kyle is helping me document weekly pictures with the fruit corresponding with baby size to put in an album.
Here are is a little sample of weeks so far. Week by week, we are embracing each step of this journey!
                     

Week Ten

                     

Week Fifteen

                            

Prayer for a New School Year

With the start of a new school year, my thoughts always turn to the teacher and students that are beginning a new season in their life.

I encourage you to declare this prayer over this next school year and declare God's power and will to be shown in schools this year.

God,
You are a wondrous and marvelous God. I thank you for giving each of us the capacity to learn new things. I am amazed at the gifts, talents, and abilities that you have placed on each of us.
I pray especially for teachers, who share their gifts, talents, and abilities with children. I thank you for the sacrifices, the time, the love given from every teacher's heart to inspire and build up the children that are placed in their path. I ask that you give them the strength, the boldness, the compassion to deal with each day given to them. I ask that you guide their decisions and discussions each day and help them to make wise choices in dealing with conflicts that rise in their classrooms. I pray that you ignite the spark that called them to teaching when they first began their career. I ask that you give them extra grace so that they may give their students grace where needed.
God, I pray for the students that are starting a new year. I pray that you clear their minds so that they may learn what they need to learn this year. I pray that you reveal your purpose for every student searching and give them a vision of what they could be. I thank you for each child who comes ready to learn, who helps others, who makes the right choice. May their good deeds not go unseen. I ask you to guide the wild ones, who would rather make trouble than shine bright. I pray that they are given grace and shown love that they may have a turn of heart and desire to aim higher. I pray for the lonely students, the hurting students, the struggling students, the hungry students, the abused students. Lord comfort them in a way only you can. Bless each student as they confront their school work, cliques, peer pressure, schedules. May you be glorified through the work of students this year.
God, I pray for the parents as they send their kids off to another year.  I ask that you be especially close to those mommas sending their kids off to their first day of kindergarten, high school, college, and every milestone in between. Be near to their anxious hearts and comfort them knowing that their children are held tight in Your loving hands. Be with the daddies, leading their families. Let them rise to the occasions given and be great examples to their children so that through them You are made evident. I ask that you give parents wisdom and grace in guiding their children through trials and tough decisions. May You be the source of their answers. God, convict those parents who are not involved, and are not making wise choices for their children. Show them the way to parent and the way to love their children in the way You intended.
Thank you for giving resting time in the summer and I pray that you give energy and a renewed spirit as this new school year starts. May You move in a mighty way in each of our lives. Amen.